Wii Mini To Be Released In U.K. Next Month

The Wii Mini, initially exclusive to Canada, is being launched in the U.K. on March 22nd, Nintendo have announced.

As previously reported, the system is stripped down version of the Wii, with no Gamecube backward compatibility, no Internet connectivity, no SD Card slot, and no 480p video output. A price for the system has not been announced in the U.K.

Additionally, Nintendo are adding a few titles to their list of budget-priced Wii games to coincide with the Wii Mini launch in the U.K. Wii Sports Resort, Mario Power Tennis, Super Paper Mario and Mario Party 8 will be released as budget “Nintendo Selects” titles, joining existing budget-priced games like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy and Animal Crossing: Let’s Go to the City.

“no Gamecube backward compatibility, no Internet connectivity, no SD Card slot, and no 480p video output” Can it even run Wii games?

ZEROthefirst

Normaly the Wii doesn’t even run at 480p without using an S-video or component cables. I always though before that it did, but if you’re just on the basic visual cables you’re locked at 480i and can’t switch to 480p without those cables.

malek86

Actually S-video is not enough, you need Conponent. But the problem with the Wii Mini is that it won’t output 480p even if you are using Component.

http://eonhack.blogspot.com theclaw

That’s precisely because Wii Mini does not support component video. Without component to enable it, a 480p option serves no purpose.

malek86

That’s not entirely true. Even in 480i there could be a slight improvement in image quality, as Component brings the Pb and Pr signals in separate cables, which should theoretically allow for higher fidelity compared to S-Video.

http://eonhack.blogspot.com theclaw

I know. You read my point backwards. 480p option isn’t very useful without component.

malek86

… yeah, just noticed that, sorry. Anyway, I wonder why Nintendo removed Component support at all. It doesn’t require a separate output port like on the Gamecube, so there’s no saving to be done there. And I’d assume Component processing is already integrated in the GPU.

ZEROthefirst

Oops, didn’t mean to use S-video cable as an example for bringing the output to 480p (just meant to use it as an example of a bit better quality while at 480i). Anyways yeah I know what you mean, I personally see absolutely no point in getting a Wii Mini. Anyone can go out and purchase a use Wii for around the same price and get more features. The only real reason I could see anyone wanting this is maybe if they’re collectiong consoles and just have to add it to the collection.

Gabi López Ramírez

‘Lucky U.K. gets everything! :p

http://epiclyamazing.wordpress.com/ AzureNova

………Why?

malek86

This is truly terrifying. I don’t think this revision has any redeeming features at all (it’s not even much smaller than the Wii, and the power supply is still external). Also I bet it won’t cost much less either.

What’s the point? This is worse than the GBMicro… at least that one, for all its problems, was very portable.

http://www.twitter.com/Celedin Celedin

Guess Nintendo want to get the last they can out of the Wii and get in the 50 remaining Wii-less homes left in the UK ; )

malek86

Well, I’d hope the remaining 50 people without a Wii, didn’t buy one because it was too expensive… otherwise I’m not sure why they’d want to get this instead.

Jordan Ortiz

Really dont understand why such a system is being, produced this late. Might as well make a Wii U mini

ShawnOtakuSomething

does anyone want this?

Thankful4JRPGs

This watered-down piece of crap is way too late to be relevant in today’s market.

capristrider

Arigato Nintendo!

http://hedjahead.wordpress.com/ Hedja

Why didn’t they use a similar design for the WiiU. It reminds me of the SNES. Such a great design, shame about the feature-stripping..

LegoPenguin

Dolphin 3.5 :]

SprintsMcGee

This is one expensive paperweight.

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